Acquiring seismic data in the Barents Sea

In the early hours of 16 June, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate began acquiring two-dimensional (2D) seismic data in the northeast part of the Barents Sea.

RSS From: Norwegian Petroleum Directorate
Published: 21.06.2012

In all, approximately 14,300 kilometres (40 lines) of seismic data will be acquired in this area. The work will be carried out by the vessel Artemis Atlantic, and will continue until October.

The ship has been acquiring seismic data in the southeast part of the Barents Sea since early May, and operates with two escort vessels.

”The acquisition activity in the south has been very efficient and successful, and we finished a couple of weeks earlier than expected,” says Director of Exploration Sissel Eriksen in the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate.

The area being surveyed by the NPD is located in the former disputed area on the border between Norway and Russia. The acquisition is commissioned by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, and is the first time the Norwegian government is acquiring seismic data in this part of the Barents Sea.

During the summer, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate is planning to acquire a total of approx. 30,000 kilometres of seismic data in the Barents Sea, at Jan Mayen and in the Nordland IV and V areas.